THOMAS BRADFORD

A fine William & Mary period 8-day longcase clock. The case is constructed primarily of oak and veneered with walnut and panels of bird and floral marquetry against a walnut ground. The cross-grain mouldings are in walnut. Standing on bun feet the clock retains its original base and there is an ebonised pearwood lenticle to the trunk door. The rising hood is flanked by ebonised barley twist columns and giltwood capitals and bases. There is a delicate walnut sound fret set below the cornice moulding.

The 11 inch square brass dial is mounted with cherub head and foliate spandrels, silvered chapter ring and subsidiary seconds ring below XII. The dial centre is finely matted with ringed winding holes and an aperture to view the day of the month. The dial plate has delicate foliate engraving between the spandrels and the chapter ring is signed by the maker between VII and V. The blued steel hands are finely pierced and faceted and the dial centre is engraved with a Tudor Rose

The high quality 8-Day duration movement has five pillars and the wheel work appears original throughout. The hours are sounded on a bell via an outside locking plate.

Height: 80 ½ in (205 cm)

* Thomas Bradford was apprenticed to the famous maker Joseph Windmills in 1673 and freed in September 1680. He had a large workshop with a number of apprentices.